Concise syntheses of eburnane indole alkaloids.

The asymmetric divergent syntheses of a group of C20 ethyl oxo-functionalized eburnane alkaloids, (-)-eburnaminol (5), (+)-larutenine (6), (-)-terengganensine B (7), (-)-strempeliopine (8), and (-)-terengganensine A (9), have been achieved. The key step in the assembly of the complex ring system of the target molecules is a photoredox catalytic nitrogen-centered radical cascade reaction, which allows the regioselective and stereoselective construction of the B, C, and D rings and the installation of the C21 chirality of the eburnane alkaloid skeleton in one pot.

Research on the dispersion of carbon nanotubes by ultrasonic oscillation, surfactant and centrifugation respectively and fiscal policies for its industrial development.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have attracted wide attention because of their unique structure and properties. However, the prepared CNTs often present agglomeration state, which destroys the excellent properties of single carbon nanotubes and seriously affects the application of carbon nanotubes. How to effectively disperse carbon nanotubes has become an urgent problem to be solved.

HDAC1 Silencing in Ovarian Cancer Enhances the Chemotherapy Response.

Background/aims: Cisplatin-based treatment is first-line chemotherapy for several cancers including ovarian cancer. The development of cisplatin resistance results in treatment failure, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a large family of enzymes that deacetylate lysine residues on histones and non-histone proteins.

Neuroprotective effects of cordycepin inhibit Aβ-induced apoptosis in hippocampal neurons.

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), β-amyloid (Aβ) protein toxicity increases the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and intracellular calcium levels, resulting in neuronal dysfunction, neurodegenerative disorders, and cell death. Cordycepin is a derivative of the nucleoside adenosine; also, it is speculated to exert neuroprotective effects against Aβ-induced oxidative toxicity in hippocampal neurons. In the present study, the fluorescence detection method and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were used to study the neuroprotective effects against Aβ-induced toxicity in the primary hippocampal cultured neurons.

miR-128 targets the CC chemokine ligand 18 gene (CCL18) in cutaneous malignant melanoma progression.

Background: The CC chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18) has a higher expression in some tumors, while the CCL18 level can be a marker of tumor progression and prognosis. We previously reported that the expression of CCL18 gene was dramatically up-regulated in cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) and its expression levels were correlated with tumor thickness.

Objective: To investigate miRNAs which could target the CCL18 gene so as to mediate CMM development and improvement.

Hybrid Nanoreactors: Enabling an Off-the-Shelf Strategy for Concurrently Enhanced Chemo-immunotherapy.

Immunosuppressive tumors generally exhibit poor response to immune checkpoint blockade based cancer immunotherapy. Rationally designed hybrid nanoreactors are now presented that have integrated functions as Fenton catalysts and glutathione depletion agents for amplifying the immunogenic cell death and activating immune cells. A simple physical mixture of nanoreactors and chemodrugs in combination with immune checkpoint blockades show synergistically and concurrently enhanced chemo-immunotherapy efficacy, inhibiting the growth of both treated primary immunosuppressive tumors and untreated distant tumors.

Room temperature synthesis of dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles with small sizes and enhanced mRNA delivery performance.

Dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DMSNs) with a small diameter (∼50 nm) and a large pore size (>20 nm) have been synthesized at room temperature. It is shown that the choice of room temperature synthesis favours the formation of large-pore and small-size DMSNs compared to conventional synthesis at higher temperature. Compared to mesoporous silica nanoparticles with a similar particle size but a smaller mesopore size and DMSNs with a similar pore size but a larger particle size, DMSNs with both a small particle size and a large pore size possess a higher in vitro mRNA transfection efficiency, indicating their potential as promising delivery vehicles for exogenous genetic molecules.

Zika Virus Envelope Protein and Antibody Complexes.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a re-emerged human pathogen, belonging to a super serogroup with dengue virus. Infection of ZIKV can lead to severe congenital symptoms, such as microcephaly, in newborns and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. To date, no prophylactics and therapeutics are available.

Structures of Zika Virus E & NS1: Relations with Virus Infection and Host Immune Responses.

Zika virus (ZIKV), first discovered in the Zika forest in Uganda in 1947 was understudied until the recent explosive epidemic in several South American countries where it has become strongly associated with congenital birth defects leading to severe cranial malformations and neurological conditions. The increase in number of case of microcephaly in newborn children associated with ZIKV infection triggered the World Health Organization to declare the epidemic as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in February of 2016. ZIKV is a member of the flavivirus genus and is transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, however in the current epidemic clear evidence is emerging to suggest the virus can be sexually transmitted from human to human.

Glutathione-depletion mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles as a self-adjuvant and Co-delivery platform for enhanced cancer immunotherapy.

Silica based nanoparticles have emerged as a promising vaccine delivery system for cancer immunotherapy, but their bio-degradability, adjuvanticity and the resultant antitumor activity remain to be largely improved. In this study, we report biodegradable glutathione-depletion dendritic mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (GDMON) with a tetrasulfide-incorporated framework as a novel co-delivery platform in cancer immunotherapy. Functionalized GDMON are capable of co-delivering an antigen protein (ovalbumin) and a toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist into antigen presenting cells (APCs) and inducing endosome escape.

Flexible Nb₄N/rGO Electrode for High-Performance Solid State Supercapacitors.

Flexible supercapacitors (SCs) are desirable for elastic and clothing electronic products owning to their considerable safety, high foldability and outstanding power density. Herein, multilayered films composed of alternating mesoporous Nb4N5 nanobelts and rGO nanosheets (Nb4N5/rGO) are designed and fabricated exhibiting good flexibility. The folding Nb4N5/rGO film electrode reveals an areal capacitance of 141 mF cm-2 (at 1 mA cm-2) along with remarkable cycling stability (the capacitance retention is 90% after 6,000 cycles).

The MEK1/2 Inhibitor AZD6244 Sensitizes BRAF-Mutant Thyroid Cancer to Vemurafenib.

BACKGROUND [i]BRAF[/i]V600E mutation occurs in approximately 45% of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) cases, and 25% of anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) cases. Vemurafenib/PLX4032, a selective BRAF inhibitor, suppresses extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (MEK/ERK1/2) signaling and shows beneficial effects in patients with metastatic melanoma harboring the [i]BRAFV600E[/i] mutation. However, the response to vemurafenib is limited in BRAF-mutant thyroid cancer.

Ovostatin 2 knockdown significantly inhibits the growth, migration, and tumorigenicity of cutaneous malignant melanoma cells.

Background: We previously identified ovostatin 2 (OVOS2) as a new candidate gene for cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) in a Chinese population. In this study, we aimed to investigate the exact role of OVOS2 in cell proliferation, invasion, and tumorigenesis of melanoma A375 cells.

Methods: The downregulation of OVOS2 expression was performed using lentiviral vectors with specific shRNA.

A Desulfurative Strategy for the Generation of Alkyl Radicals Enabled by Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis.

Herein, we present a new desulfurative method for generating primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl radicals through visible-light photoredox catalysis. A process that involves the generation of N-centered radicals from sulfinamide intermediates, followed by subsequent fragmentation, is critical to forming the corresponding alkyl radical species. This strategy has been successfully applied to conjugate addition reactions that features mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope (>60 examples), and good functional-group tolerance.

Analysis of microbial abundance and community composition in esophagus and intestinal tract of wild veined rapa whelk (Rapana venosa) by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

The rapa whelk Rapana venosa is a commercially important gastropod in China, but a major invader worldwide. There is little information on the bacterial community composition in the digestive system of this species, despite the microflora has important roles in digestion, nutrition, disease resistance, and immune response. The present study investigated the bacterial flora community in the esophagus and intestinal tract of wild R.

Intrastriatal transplantation of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth reduces motor defects in Parkinsonian rats.

Background: This study explored the neural differentiation and therapeutic effects of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) in a rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: The SHED were isolated from fresh dental pulp and were induced to differentiate to neurons and dopamine neurons by inhibiting similar mothers against dpp (SMAD) signaling with Noggin and increase conversion of dopamine neurons from SHED with CHIR99021, Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) and FGF8 in vitro. The neural-primed SHED were transplanted to the striatum of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced PD rats to evaluate their neural differentiation and functions in vivo.

Effects of polysaccharide from Portulaca oleracea L. on voltage-gated Na channel of INS-1 cells.

Our previous work showed that polysaccharide isolated from Portulaca oleracea L. (POP) has an insulinotropic effect. The voltage-gated Na channel (VGSC) in the excitement phase plays an important role.

Furfural-tolerant Zymomonas mobilis derived from error-prone PCR-based whole genome shuffling and their tolerant mechanism.

Furfural-tolerant strain is essential for the fermentative production of biofuels or chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass. In this study, Zymomonas mobilis CP4 was for the first time subjected to error-prone PCR-based whole genome shuffling, and the resulting mutants F211 and F27 that could tolerate 3 g/L furfural were obtained. The mutant F211 under various furfural stress conditions could rapidly grow when the furfural concentration reduced to 1 g/L.

Crystal Structure of the Capsid Protein from Zika Virus.

Recently, Zika virus (ZIKV) emerged as a global public health concern and is distinct from other flaviviruses in many aspects, for example, causing transplacental infection, fetal abnormalities and vector-independent transmission through body fluids in humans. The capsid (C) protein is a multifunctional protein, since it binds to viral RNA in the process of nucleocapsid assembly and plays important roles in virus infection processes by interacting with cellular proteins, modulating cellular metabolism, apoptosis and immune response. Here we solved the crystal structure of ZIKV C protein at a resolution of 1.

Modular Engineering Intracellular NADH Regeneration Boosts Extracellular Electron Transfer of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1.

Efficient extracellular electron transfer (EET) of exoelectrogens is essentially for practical applications of versatile bioelectrochemical systems. Intracellular electrons flow from NADH to extracellular electron acceptors via EET pathways. However, it was yet established how the manipulation of intracellular NADH impacted the EET efficiency.

Polyene phosphatidylcholine overcomes oxaliplatin resistance in human gastric cancer BGC823 cells.

Intrinsic or acquired resistance to oxaliplatin (L-OHP) is a major reason of treatment failure in gastric cancer and limits therapeutic success. Here we generated an oxaliplatin resistant gastric cancer cell line, BGC823/L-OHP, to investigate the effect of a hepatoprotective compound, polyene phosphatidylcholine (PPC), on conquest of oxaliplatin resistance. BGC823/L-OHP cells showed less sensitive to L-OHP directed growth inhibition than the parental BGC823 cells.

Voltage-Gated Na+ Channels are Modulated by Glucose and Involved in Regulating Cellular Insulin Content of INS-1 Cells.

Background/aims: Islet beta cells (β-cells) are unique cells that play a critical role in glucose homeostasis by secreting insulin in response to increased glucose levels. Voltage-gated ion channels in β-cells, such as K+ and Ca2+ channels, contribute to insulin secretion. The response of voltage-gated Na+ channels (VGSCs) in β-cells to the changes in glucose levels remains unknown.